Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

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Put the store-bought stuff down; homemade chocolate buttercream frosting is surprisingly easy and tastes 100 times better than those other options.

Put the store-bought stuff down; homemade chocolate buttercream frosting is surprisingly easy and tastes 100 times better than those other options.

Can I make a confession?

I usually use boxed cake mixes. I know, I know. I’m breaking all kinds of food blogger commandments. You know what, though? No one notices. Part of that is because it’s completely possible to make moist, delicious cakes and cupcakes from a box. Mostly, though, I think it’s because people couldn’t care less what the cake part is like when it’s topped with homemade frosting.

As okay as I am with boxed mixes, I am absolutely not okay with canned frosting; you’ve got to make your own. It isn’t that difficult- it’s way easier than from-scratch cake- and there’s no comparison flavor-wise. Trust me, you’ll be a dessert hero when you present anything topped with this homemade chocolate buttercream frosting.

The secret to this frosting is the way it’s finished. After all the ingredients are added, you turn up the mixer and let it work its magic. The beaters will whip air into the frosting, lightening the color and giving you the fluffiest buttercream you can imagine.

Put the store-bought stuff down; homemade chocolate buttercream frosting is surprisingly easy and tastes 100 times better than those other options.

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Cast Iron Pizza

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You can make crispy, melty perfectly delicious homemade cast iron pizza in less time than it takes the delivery man to show up.

You can make crispy, melty perfectly delicious homemade cast iron pizza in less time than it takes the delivery man to show up.

It’s traditional in our house to have homemade pizza every year on the day we decorate our Christmas tree. It’s one of my favorite traditions for a few reasons. Partly, it’s because the custom is one J and I started together after we got married. A big part of it, though, is because I really stinking love pizza.

You can make crispy, melty perfectly delicious homemade cast iron pizza in less time than it takes the delivery man to show up.

Don’t worry, Christmas-tree-decorating-night isn’t the only time I make this cast iron pizza. We have it a couple times a month. Surprisingly, the recipe is even on my short list of quick go-to recipes. The dough recipe is an easy no-rise version that doesn’t require hours of wait time. I’m not lying when I say you can have this pizza on the table faster than delivery will arrive.

I topped this one with pepperoni because it’s an easy classic. You could top yours with anything you have, including yummy Mexican leftovers or last night’s veggies.

You can make crispy, melty perfectly delicious homemade cast iron pizza in less time than it takes the delivery man to show up.

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Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments

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Homemade salt dough ornaments couldn’t be simpler to make. With only three ingredients, they’re the perfect easy craft for kids of all ages.

Homemade salt dough ornaments couldn't be simpler to make. With only three ingredients, they're the perfect easy craft for kids of all ages.

When B and I made homemade cinnamon ornaments a couple weeks ago, she was pretty disappointed she didn’t get to paint or decorate them. I knew right away she would love making and decorating these homemade salt dough ornaments and, since they’re almost as easy as the cinnamon ones, we whipped up a batch the next day.

Homemade salt dough ornaments couldn't be simpler to make. With only three ingredients, they're the perfect easy craft for kids of all ages.

I broke out a bunch of acrylic paints and we had a blast decorating Christmas trees, snowmen, and angels. Because I want these ornaments to be around for a long time, I let the paint dry and them sealed them with clear acrylic. You could use a spray; I used a jar left over from sealing the furniture in the nursery.

We put the first batch on our tree at home and, since the activity was such a hit, I made a double patch for the kids to paint and give to teachers and staff members at school. Homemade salt dough ornaments will definitely be a new Christmas tradition for the Winstead family.

 

When your homemade salt dough ornaments are dry, string them with ribbon, embroidery floss, or festive baker’s twine. They’re ready to display (or give away)!

Homemade salt dough ornaments couldn't be simpler to make. With only three ingredients, they're the perfect easy craft for kids of all ages.

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Homemade Cinnamon Ornaments

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With just two ingredients, you can make easy homemade cinnamon ornaments: a perfect DIY for decorating or gifting. What a fun craft for kids!

With just two ingredients, you can make easy homemade cinnamon ornaments: a perfect DIY for decorating or gifting. What a fun craft for kids!

Homemade cinnamon ornaments are something from my childhood, although I can’t for the life of me remember where and when I made them. I have no idea if it was at home, at school, at church. I’ve got nothing. Regardless, when I thought about what sorts of crafts I wanted to do this year with the kids, I knew these fragrant ornaments would make the list.

B and I whipped up a batch during Thanksgiving break. The dough couldn’t possibly be any easier; there are only two ingredients. It rolled out easily, and we had fun choosing shapes. These homemade cinnamon ornaments bake low and slow, leaving the whole house smelling deliciously like Christmas.

With just two ingredients, you can make easy homemade cinnamon ornaments: a perfect DIY for decorating or gifting. What a fun craft for kids!

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Homemade Pizza Pockets

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No cooking sleeve required: these homemade pizza pockets are nothing but fresh, seasoned dough, filled with your favorite meats, vegetables, and cheeses. And they’re freezer-friendly!

No cooking sleeve required: these homemade pizza pockets are nothing but fresh, seasoned dough, filled with your favorite meats, vegetables, and cheeses. And they're freezer-friendly!

Me and pizza. We have a deep love for one another. Actually, it’s pretty one-sided, but I have love enough for us both.

One thing I don’t love, though, is store bought pizza pockets. They were a pretty big deal when I was in junior high; twice a week my parents would give me cash to buy one, along with a can of Snapple, from the student store. The endless wait to use one of two microwaves was always worth it because of the pouch of hot, melted cheese waiting for me at the end.

Now? Now, I have a hard time remembering what I saw in them. I’ll get a craving for one a couple times a year, but each time I break down and buy a box, I always tell myself, “See? They’re not good. At all. Don’t do this again.”

With this recipe, I don’t have to. I can make my own homemade pizza pockets and I get to know exactly what goes in to them. The batch in these pictures was an afterthought, thrown together with the same quick dough I use for grilled pizza. I stuffed them with pepperoni and mozzarella and called it good- and they were, so good.

When I plan ahead, I love to fill my dough with onions, peppers, or leftover marinated chicken. They’d be divine with oven-fried chimichanga filling or even vegetables only. It doesn’t really matter what goes inside; anything wrapped in homemade dough, brushed with olive oil, and sprinkled with garlic salt is going to be a winner.

No cooking sleeve required: these homemade pizza pockets are nothing but fresh, seasoned dough, filled with your favorite meats, vegetables, and cheeses. And they're freezer-friendly!

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Homemade Freezer Garlic Bread

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Don’t waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

I don’t love to admit it, but I have a weakness for store-bought frozen Texas toast. You know, the oval-shaped stuff you bake from frozen? It just pairs so perfectly with any sort of pasta dish. Of course, I much prefer homemade garlic bread, but we rarely buy any type of bread that isn’t regular whole wheat sandwich bread. You can bet if I make a loaf of French bread from scratch, I’ll be using at least a few slices to make homemade garlic bread.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

It occurred to me a while back that it wouldn’t be difficult at all to make homemade freezer garlic bread. It only took me a few minutes to put together the spread, butter the toast, and stick everything in the freezer. Now we have access to garlic bread any time we want it and we didn’t pay for the over-priced, over-processed version from the freezer section of the grocery store.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

One of the best things about this homemade freezer garlic bread- other than how awesome it tastes- is that it can totally be adapted to your own preferences. You can use any sort of homemade or store-bought bread. You can adjust the amounts of the seasonings I use, or you could add in your own favorites. You can even toss in some Parmesan cheese to kick it up a notch.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

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Quick and Easy Grilled Pizza

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Don’t bother turning on the oven. In the time it takes for the delivery man to arrive, you can whip up this quick and easy grilled pizza.

I long ago perfected- in my opinion, anyway- homemade pizza. And then I made the perfect bagel pizza, because why not? Those two recipes are pretty much all we need most of the time.

Don't bother turning on the oven. In the time it takes for the delivery man to arrive, you can whip up this quick and easy grilled pizza.

Pizza is awesome, but sometimes you just want to mix things up, especially when it’s hot and you don’t want to turn the oven on  it turns out a grill isn’t just a convenient way to avoid heating up your kitchen; the high heat it produces is actually reminiscent of a pizza oven, meaning it can cook a mean pizza.

This pizza dough recipe is based on my world’s best homemade pizza dough, but I made a couple changes to make it ready to go much faster. After you mix the dough up you only have to allow it to rest for five minutes before you begin assembling your pizzas.

I chose to top these pizzas with pepperoni. We’re kind of traditionalists. Like every other kind of pizza, though, they’re awesome covered in whatever you choose. My favorite version includes roasted jalapeños and red onions

Don't bother turning on the oven. In the time it takes for the delivery man to arrive, you can whip up this quick and easy grilled pizza.

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Homemade Tropical Summer Stovetop Potpourri

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Bring fresh summer scents inside with this homemade tropical summer potpourri made of lemons, strawberries, and coconut extract.

Bring fresh summer scents inside with this homemade tropical summer potpourri made of lemons, strawberries, and coconut extract.

My easy fall stovetop potpourri got a very good reception. I guess I’m not the only one looking to create a homey-scented house without the use of artificial sprays or waxes. I made that potpourri many times through fall and winter and enjoyed how comforting it made our home smell.

I had a thought, though. If cooling temperatures merit a homemade potpourri, what about hot summer days full of smelly shoes and sweaty little people? Yeah, we need a stovetop potpourri for that, too. So I set out to create a summery version of the smell-good stuff.

I knew I wanted to use coconut extract because it’s such a distinctly summer scent. I didn’t want the whole concoction to smell like sunscreen, though, so I added lemon juice. To me, there’s not much more fresh- or clean-smelling than citrus. And then, because I had a few sad-looking strawberries in the refrigerator, I sliced those and tossed them in, too.

All the ingredients in this summer potpourri come together to make a sweet, fresh concoction that’ll perfume your whole house in the most light, refreshing way. It’s as close as you’ll get to a tropical vacation without the sunburn and the sand in your swimsuit.

Bring fresh summer scents inside with this homemade tropical summer potpourri made of lemons, strawberries, and coconut extract.

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Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

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You don’t have to head to your favorite restaurant to get an over-priced glass of this stuff. You can whip up a sweet, refreshing glass of homemade strawberry lemonade at home.

Strawberry lemonade has long been a favorite drink of mine. When we lived in Oregon, one of our favorite inexpensive date night restaurants was Red Robin. I’m addicted to their fries, and their freckled lemonade never ceases to brighten my day.

homemade strawberry lemonade3

Now that we live in Mississippi, the closest Red Robin is more than three hours away. I’m sure there are other, closer restaurants that serve it, but I don’t need them anymore. I perfected this homemade strawberry lemonade more than three years ago and I haven’t looked back since.

I grab a pound of strawberries and whip up a batch to celebrate the start of strawberry season every year, and I spend the rest of the spring and summer looking for any excuse to make it again. I tend to keep a pitcher of homemade lemonade in the fridge, making the whole recipe that much easier to throw together.

This homemade strawberry lemonade gets rave reviews from everyone I serve it to. The lemonade itself is wonderfully tart, with a perfect balance of sweetness. With the addition of the flavorful strawberry sauce, the whole thing is refreshing and sweet and drinks like a glass of summer.

You don't have to head to your favorite restaurant to get an over-priced glass of this stuff. You can whip up a sweet, refreshing glass of homemade strawberry lemonade at home.

[Read more…]

Homemade Lemonade

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This summer, ditch the canned powder and make your own homemade lemonade. With just three simple ingredients, you can enjoy a refreshing glass any time.

This summer, ditch the canned powder and make your own homemade lemonade. With just three simple ingredients, you can enjoy a refreshing glass any time.

There’s nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day than an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade.

This recipe is so simple to make. I usually keep a jar of simple syrup in the fridge throughout the summer so I’m always ready to whip up a pitcher- or even just a glass- of homemade lemonade. It’s especially good with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, but, really who has time- or money- for that? I use the bottled version and I’ve never had any complaints. Plus, it means there’s no trip to the grocery store standing between me and a glass of this.

So many people are used to powdered or bottled versions of lemonade. Those varieties might do in a pinch, but this homemade recipe is so simple to make. Wow the guests at your next summertime gathering by throwing together a batch of homemade lemonade.

This summer, ditch the canned powder and make your own homemade lemonade. With just three simple ingredients, you can enjoy a refreshing glass any time.

Homemade Lemonade

Ingredients

2 c. sugar
10 c. water, divided
2 c. lemon juice

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and two cups of water. Stir together and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. When the mixture boils and the sugar is dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. Store cooled mixture in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to mix up the lemonade.

To make the lemonade, combine the remaining eight cups of water, the lemon juice, and one and half to two cups of simple syrup in a large pitcher. Stir together well and adjust the amounts of simple syrup or lemon juice based on your preferences. Serve chilled over ice.

Great Blogger Barbecue

With the unofficial start of summer next week, it’s almost barbecue season! In celebration, I’ve teamed up with several fellow bloggers to bring you 50 recipe ideas for a smashing summer shindig. See all the recipes for our Great Blogger BBQ below!

50 recipes for the perfect summer get-together! Whether you're planning a barbecue, picnic, or outdoor party, check out everything from appetizer recipes, entree recipes, cocktail recipes, dessert recipes, side dish recipes and more to go with your BBQ! #greatbloggerBBQ

50 recipes for the perfect summer get-together! Whether you're planning a barbecue, picnic, or outdoor party, check out everything from appetizer recipes, entree recipes, cocktail recipes, dessert recipes, side dish recipes and more to go with your BBQ! #greatbloggerBBQ

Appetizers

Korean BBQ Tofu Sliders with Kimchi Slaw by Hello Little Home
Corn, Black Bean, and Feta Dip by Lizzy is Dizzy
Crab, Bacon & Guacamole Crostinis by That Square Plate

Cocktails and Drinks

Blackberry Gin Slush by The Speckled Palate
Homemade Lemonade by Winstead Wandering
Blood Orange Mocktail by Body Rebooted
Fleur Collins Cocktail by Hungry Girl por Vida
Fourth of July Sparkler by Mixplorology
Black Stripe Cold Rum Cocktail by Honey and Birch
Fresh Watermelon Mojito by Twin Stripe
Mint Hibiscus Lemonade by The Little Epicurean
Wine Slushy by Living Well Kitchen
Basil Gin Lemonade by Glisten and Grace

Entrées

Salt Plate Shrimp by The Mexitalian
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Burgers by Simple and Savory
Roasted Vegetable Grilled Pizza with Garlic Herb Oil by Ciao Chow Bambina
Memphis Style Pulled Pork by Two Places at Once
Balsamic & Honey Chicken Skewers with Strawberry-Kiwi Salsa by No Spoon Necessary
Amazing Basic Spice Rub for Grilling by An Oregon Cottage
Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs by PasadenaDaisy
Smoked Porchetta Pork Loin by Tasty Ever After
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork by Appeasing a Food Geek
Peach Barbecue Sauce by The Beach House Kitchen
Tuna Stuffed Sweet Peppers by SugarLoveSpices
Herb Marinated Steak Gyros Plates with Tomato-Onion Salad and Green Tahini Sauce by Feed Me Phoebe
Marinated Skirt Steak with Sweet Corn and Cherry Salad by Domesticate ME!
Sweet & Sour Chicken Kebabs by Tastefully Frugal

Side Dishes

Caprese Pasta Salad by Club Narwhal
Cranberry Almond Broccoli Salad by Two Sisters Kitchens
Coconut Milk Mac & Cheese by A Little Gathering
Cherry Quinoa Salad by Food Lovin Family
Cheddar, Corn and Bacon Potato Salad by Family Food on the Table
Lemon Rocket Pasta Salad by Lauren Caris Cooks
Green Goddess Potato Salad by Love & Flour
Red White & Blue Watergate Salad by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Zesty Potato Skewers by Pamela Salzman
Quinoa Tabouli by A Fork’s Tale

Desserts

Banana Pudding Ice Cream Cake by Feast + West
Strawberry Beer Floats by bethcakes
Cherry Cheesecake Dessert by The Little Blonde Baker
Light Berry Angel Food Cake by The Creative Bite
Lemon Cream Tarts with Berries by Girl Heart Food
Fresh Strawberry Muffins by Spiced
Lemon Pie Sundae by Flavours & Frosting
Strawberry Lemon Shortcakes by Dash of Herbs
Grasshopper Pie by 2 Cookin’ Mamas
Berry Mango Smoothie Pops by HÄLSA Nutrition
Mixed Berry Vanilla Bean Cake by Cake ‘n Knife
No Churn Cookies and Cream Strawberry Ice Cream by The Secret Ingredient Is
Coconut Blueberry & Vodka Ice Pops by Nik Snacks
Strawberry Key Lime Margarita Greek Yogurt Ice Pops by Beer Girl Cooks
Cherry & Rhubarb Tart by Crepes of Wrath

This summer, ditch the canned powder and make your own homemade lemonade. With just three simple ingredients, you can enjoy a refreshing glass any time.